Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 498 Nanjiang City

After leaving the Ten Thousand Mountains, at dusk, the flying boat landed near a large city.

The city is very large, not much smaller than Tianyuan City, and is the largest city in the southern part of Zhongzhou—Nanjiang City.

The city walls were very high, and the city gates were very wide. The flow of people coming and going was like two rivers flowing in opposite directions, rushing and gurgling.

Yan Ruyu stood up from the deck, stretched like a cat, and looked back at Lin Chen:

"We're not far from the Hehuan Sect here. How about we stop by my place?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment and nodded.

Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well take a stroll around.

The flying boat landed outside the city, and the group walked into the city.

The bustling atmosphere in the city was completely different from that in Tianyuan City.

Tianyuan City was the kind of bustling place that was serious and proper, where everything was done in an orderly manner, even the shouts had a sense of propriety, like a well-bred lady with high standards.

Nanjiang City is different.

It was the kind of noisy, bustling place where everyone on the street was shouting louder than the last.

The vendors' shouts sounded like arguments, and the sounds of haggling could be heard from half a street away, just like a vegetable market.

Lin Chen walked down the street with his hands in his sleeves, looking around like an old farmer visiting the city.

Yan Ruyu linked arms with him, smiling like a newlywed bride, wishing she could stick to him.

Lan Fenghuang followed behind, her eyes darting around as she looked at the shops on both sides. She wanted to buy something but was too embarrassed to speak up, though her eyes betrayed her.

Lingbo walked beside Lan Fenghuang, expressionless, as if she didn't care about anything.

Chi Meng walked at the very back.

He was dressed in black robes, had black hair, and a blank expression, standing out from the lively atmosphere around him.

Like an alien who has mistakenly entered the human world.

---

As he walked, Jian Shisan suddenly stopped, took out a jade talisman from his robes, and two characters slowly appeared on it—

"Return immediately."

The words were blood red, which made me anxious just looking at them.

Jian Shisan frowned slightly, put away the jade talisman, and raised his head to clasp his hands in a fist salute to Lin Chen:

"Young Master Lin, the Pavilion Master has summoned me urgently, and I must take my leave now."

"Okay!" Lin Chen waved his hand, "Have a safe trip!"

Jian Shisan nodded: "Three attacks, two more to go."

After saying that, he transformed into a streak of sword light and disappeared eastward in the blink of an eye.

That's the direction of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

Lin Chen stared at the direction where the sword light had disappeared, his eyes flashing slightly.

Two seconds later, he looked away.

Who cares? Eat and drink as you please.

He turned around and continued walking into the city.

---

Yan Ruyu led everyone to the Hehuan Sect's residence in the western city and settled them in.

Lin Chen was assigned to the main house.

After tidying up, Yan Ruyu came to find Lin Chen, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed and a smile on her face:

"Let's go out for a stroll? The night market in Nanjiang City is a must-see in Zhongzhou. You've come all this way if you don't check it out."

Lin Chen thought for a moment and said, "Okay."

The lanterns on the street were all lit up—red, yellow, green, and purple—illuminating the entire street and making even the smallest corners and nooks clear.

Lin Chen stopped in his tracks as he passed a stall selling candied hawthorns.

"Boss, five skewers, please."

The owner was an old man in his sixties. His skills looked authentic. The syrup was evenly applied, and the bright red hawthorns glistened under the light, making your mouth water just looking at them.

Lin Chen distributed the candied hawthorns: one skewer for Yan Ruyu, one skewer for Ling Bo, one skewer for Lan Fenghuang, one skewer for Chi Meng, and one skewer for himself.

Five people, one in a row, all neatly arranged.

The old man, Dugu Qiubai, was sleeping soundly at home and didn't come.

When Lin Chen handed the candied hawthorn to Chi Meng, he specifically said:

"You said you'd listen to me, so let's start with this!"

Chi Meng looked at the candied hawthorn in her hand and hesitated for a moment.

Then I put it in my mouth and took a bite.

Although he still had a blank, expressionless face, a strange light flashed quickly in his eyes.

Lin Chen saw it.

He didn't say anything, just smiled, took a bite of his candied hawthorn, and continued walking.

Lin Chen led the girls around and around, finally stopping in front of a red-roofed mansion.

The five-story building had a row of red lanterns hanging in the air, and several girls dressed in red and green stood at the entrance, smiling at anyone they saw.

The madam, in her forties, still possessed a certain charm, and greeted us with a smile, fanning herself with a round fan.

She glanced at Yan Ruyu first, then paused for a moment.

He glanced at Blue Phoenix again and paused for a moment.

I glanced at Lingbo again.

He glanced at Chi Meng again.

Four women, each more beautiful and with a unique charm than the last.

Finally, her gaze fell on Lin Chen, and she laughed so hard her eyes disappeared.

"Sir, are you... here to cause trouble?"

Lin Chen waved his hand: "Let's have a private room and listen to some music."

The madam quickly made arrangements. She had rarely seen a man like this who brought four stunning beauties to the brothel. She couldn't afford to offend him, so she just had to serve him well.

The best private room was made available, and the best musician was summoned.

The private room is quite large and can seat more than a dozen people.

In the very center was a large round table covered with a dark red tablecloth, upon which sat a teapot and teacups.

Lin Chen sat down in the middle, with Yan Ruyu sitting close to him on the left.

Lan Fenghuang sat on the right, about half a foot away.

Lingbo sat next to Lan Fenghuang, her face expressionless.

Chi Meng sat alone in the corner, not touching anyone, like a black cat crouching in the corner.

The girl playing the piano came in.

The woman, in her early twenties, wore a light blue dress. She had a pretty face, not stunningly beautiful, but her skills were truly impressive.

She came in carrying her zither, sat down in the corner, tuned the strings, glanced up at Lin Chen, then lowered her head and plucked the strings with her fingers.

He played "Spring River Flower Moon Night" with effortless grace.

The sound of the zither was like moonlight spilling onto the river, making the water shimmer and melt one's bones.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, squinted, and tapped his fingers lightly on his knee.

Yan Ruyu poured him wine, her movements as natural as those of an old married couple.

Lan Fenghuang served food to Lin Chen, picking up a piece of osmanthus cake and placing it on the small plate in front of him.

Lingbo sat beside him, expressionless, glancing at Lin Chen every now and then.

Chi Meng sat in the corner, looking out the window, lost in thought.

Lin Chen took a sip of his drink and suddenly asked, "Chi Meng, have you ever come out before?"

Chi Meng turned to look at Lin Chen, her face expressionless:

"no."

"Never left the Gu God Temple?"

"Um."

Not even once?

Not even once.

Lin Chen looked at her, recalling the way she looked at the crowds on the street earlier.

That's not indifference.

That was a state of being at a loss.

It's like standing in an unfamiliar place, not knowing where you are, what you're supposed to do, or why you're there.

That kind of look can't be faked.

Lin Chen poured her a glass of wine and pushed it towards her, saying, "Try it."

Chi Meng looked at the glass of wine, picked it up, and took a sip.

He frowned slightly and put down the cup.

Lin Chen asked with a smile, "How was it?"

Chi Meng thought for a moment, then uttered a single word: "Spicy."

Lin Chen chuckled softly.

Yan Ruyu also laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.

Lan Fenghuang smiled too, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

Lingbo remained expressionless. Although he wasn't as cold as Chi Meng, he was just as cold.

Chi Meng looked at them and smiled, her face expressionless.

But she picked up her glass again and took another sip.

Lin Chen looked at her: "Didn't you say it was spicy?"

Chi Meng replied expressionlessly, "Hmm."

"Then why are you still drinking?"

Chi Meng paused for a moment: "You said you would listen to me."

Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly: "I'm just letting you have a taste."

"I'm just tasting, not drinking!"

Lin Chen opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know how to refute it.

Yan Ruyu burst out laughing:

"You've met your match this time."

Lingbo said expressionlessly, "Very good, cure him."

Lin Chen: "..."

The moonlight shone through the window and fell on Chi Meng's face.

It was as white as jade.

She held the glass of wine and took another sip.

Then he put down the cup and continued looking out the window.

Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, looking at Chi Meng.

Suddenly, I realized that this woman wasn't so scary after all.

It's just a bit... stubborn.